Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1887-09-21

him, but he, too, had departed from
the salon. as Muller had departed from
the salle-a-manger, and neither the
one nor the other reported again dur
ing the entire evening.
General c., exceedingly annoyed by
this double disappearance, called up
the servants when the guests had gone,
and learned from them that, after his
awkwardncss at the table, Muller, in
great distress of mind. had fed to the
stable and locked himself in, and that,
after awhile. the Austrian officer, who
had inquired his whereabouts, hur-
riedly Joined him there, and remained
with him long time conversing earn
estly. Later in the evening they had
come out together, and together gone
to the neighboring hotel, still continu-
ing the conversation.
The next morning. just as the Gen.
eral was seating himself to dispatch n
note to the officer requesting an ex-
PLANTATION of the affair, word was
brought to him that the coachman was
at home again, busy with his horses.
''lt will be better to see him." said
tho General to himself, laying aside
the note he was writing and starting
for the stable. AS soon as Muller saw
him coming, however, he advanced to
meet him and respectfully presented
him a letter, couched, as nearly as
can recall it, in the following terms:
upon my honor as gentleman and soldier,
] will answer for the fidelity and good conduct
Of the coachman, Muller. Comte G. will greatly
oblige me II he does not seek to unveil the Sc
cret In the life OF this man.
CoMTE " DE -"
"But if wish to know itp" said the
General, gravcly, turning to the coach
man quietly awaiting his decision.
81 should be forced to quit your SER
vice." he answered. II should regret
it, for / have been very happy with
you; nevertheless, / should leave i'm
mediately."
The behavior of the man, as we'll as
the recommendation of an officer as
we'll known as the Comte de ", de-
cided the General; he ceased to ques-
ton him; Muller remained in his stable,
and at the end of few months the in
cident was forgotten.
In nil probability it would have been
effaced from the Generals memory,
when terrible accident recalled it.
One morning Muller, while conduct
ing the horses to water, was thrown
and cruelty trampled by them. Car
ried to house near by with a frac-
tured skull, his condition was such as
to leave but little hope of his recovery;
In fact he died before nightfall, uncon-
scious to the last. The day following
the interment the General directed one
of his aides-de-camp to enter the cham
Der of the coachman and make a list of
its contents.
Perhaps" he thought, reviewing
the circumstances surrounding the man,
perhaps there arc papers that will re-
veal his identity, or money which, as a
careful and economical liver, he has
laid aside, and which must be sent to
his family, should we discover it,"
1 leave YOU to imagine the surprise
of the aide-de-camp on entering to
carry out his instructions to find folded
away at the bottom of the coachman' S
trunk an Austrian uniform, the epau-
lets of Colonel, the brcvct of this
grade and diplomas of various distin-
guished orders, the medals and decora-
tons of the same being in many cases
ornamented with magnificent dia-
monds.
Naturally the aide-de-camp, ignorant
of the dinner incident. concluded that
Muller had stolen them, but when he
reported his discovery to the General,
and also his suspicious, the General as
sured him that he was entirely mista-
ken, and ordered them forwarded at
once to Comte dc ", although he had
nothing but conjecture and the affair
related to connect Muller, the coach
man, and an officer of rank in the Aus
trian service.
One morning, several months after
the death of Muller, General c., sitting
in his Office, was surprised to see the
Comte de V. coming into the apart
ment. 1t seemed that he had not re-
ceived the package forwarded him by
the General, and learning by chance of
the coachman' death. had presented
himself to claim whatever papers OF
articles of value he had left behind him.
"They have been sent to you al
ready, Comtc dc w. the General re-
piled; nevertheless, under the circum-
stances, though your name and position
are sufficient to establish your right to
the articles, does it seem just to me to
refuse me an explanation of your con-
nection with man whom l retained
in my service, knowing there was u
secret in his lifc-a secret that he de-
sired to concealp"
NO." responded the Austrian, "and
l am now here to give it, all the more
willingly, since you retained him in
your service upon a simple attestation
from me in spite of the mystery that sur
rounded him. The uniform, the epau-
lets, the medals and decorations were
his by right, and he was justly entitled
to them, having won them gallantly as n
soldier. One fault alone lost him every
thing; he has nobly expiatcd it, how
ever, as you will acknowledge when l
tell you all. Muller was no other than
Henri dc ", my elder brother. There
is nothing extraordinary in his story
save that which you already know. and
the fact that he was still very youth
full soldier when he gained the rank
and the distinctions the decorations of
which you have seen.
"His military advancement had been
so rapid, indeed, that my father had
reason to believe thatJhe would finally
attain the highest honor in the gift of
the State. Unfortunately my brother,
suffering from wound received in a
battle at which he had again distin-
guishcd himself. was compelled to take